Axle mounting



J. M cVElGl-l AXLE MOUNTING Aug. 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1949 INVENT07R wag/ ward BY 9 JTTOF/VE) J. M VEIGH AXLE MOUNTING Aug. 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 22, 1949 INVENTOR.

3 II, I2 secured together by cross-members I3. The members II, I2 converge at one end of the rod and are there attached to the car frame through a universal joint I l.

The outer ends of the members II and I2 are secured in hangers I5 mounted on the axle structure. Each hanger 25 consists of a sleeve I6 fitting over the inner end of one of the stub shafts of the axle structure and pinned to it to prevent rotation, and vertical arms II having transverse holes It in their ends. The holes I8 are recessed and in each of them is set a spool-shaped block II! of hard rubber.

Parallel studs 25 of reduced diameter formed on the outer ends of the members II, I2 of the rod. I!) extend through the rubber blocks I9. By means of nuts 2!, the rubber blocks are clamped between washers 22 on the studs 20.

The rubber blocks I9 yield sufficiently to permit the rods In to turn on vertical axes with respect to the axle structure. The rubber blocks oiTer some spring resistance to this movement. This permits lateral movements of the axle structure. By compression of one of the rubber blocks and expansion of the other, a slight turning of the rod It about the axis of the wheels is permitted. The rubber blocks ofier a strong spring resistance to such movement. This action permits and at the same time restrains tilting of the axle structure and also allows for a slight turning of the axle structure about its axis when conventional brakes are applied to react against brake plates It fixed on the axle. The rubber blocks I9, therefore, absorb the braking shock.

This mounting of the radius rod structures on the axle provides a true universal joint connection since the vertical axis of turning intersects the horizontal axis of turning. Thus, distortion strains on the rubber in the joint connections is avoided.

The invention may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art and the exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is con templated.

What is claimed is:

l. A mounting for railway cars, comprising the combination with a car body and a wheel axle, of a pair of substantially vertical spring struts supporting opposite sides of the end of the car on the axle, universal joints at each end of each vertical strut, a pair of parallel horizontal radius rods, universal joints connecting the radius rods to the vehicle body, and jointed means connecting the rods with the axle, the jointed connecting means having vertical axes intersecting the turning axis of the axle and including resilient means resisting torque tending to turn the axle about a horizontal axis, allowing restricted endwise movement of the axle relative to the radius rods and restricted downward tilting of the adjacent end of the car body.

2. In a mounting for railway cars, the. combination with a car body and a wheel axle, of

necting the rods at one end to the car body, and top and bottom pivotal connections between the other ends of the rods and the axle, said connections of each rod having vertical axes intersecting the turning axis of the axle and including resilient means permitting spring opposed relative turning of the axle and the rods about vertical axes and limited more strongly spring opposed relative turning of the axle and the rods about a horizontal axis.

3. In a mounting for railway cars, the combination of a dead axle, two wheels rotatably mounted on said axle, braking means reacting between said wheels and the axle, separate spring devices supporting opposite sides of the car body on the axle, a pair of radius rods extending in a direction longitudinally of the car and having forked outer ends straddling the axle, universal joints connecting the inner ends of the rods to the body of the vehicle, and joint connections between the forked ends of the rods and the axle having their vertical axes intersecting the turning axis of the axle and including resilient means for permitting a strongly spring opposed rotation of the axle with respect to the rods about the axis of the axle so as to cushion the braking torque.

4. In a mounting for connecting an axle with a vehicle body, a V-shaped radius rod structure,

as a pair of longitudinally extending radius rods at one end of the car body, universal joints cona universal joint connecting the apex portion of the rod structure with the body, a hanger sleeve fixed to the axle having aligned arms on a vertical line intersecting the axis of the axle, and joint connections between the forked ends of the radius rod structure and the hanger arms, said connections including rubber for restricting turning movement of the axle about its axis.

5. In a mounting for connecting an axle with a vehicle car body, a radius rod structure, a universal joint connecting one end of the rod structure to the car body, the other end of the rod structure being forked to straddle the axle, a sleeve fixed to the axle having arms projecting therefrom in a line vertically intersecting the axis of the axle, said arms having openings for receiving the forked end of the rod structure, rubber mountings for the portions of the forked ends of the rod structure in the arm openings, and means restraining longitudinal displacement of the rod structure from the arms, said rubber mountings restraining turning movement of the axle about its axis.

6. A radius rod structure comprising a pair of diverging members lying in substantially the same vertical plane, a universal joint member secured to the apex ends of the members, mounting studs at the spaced ends of the members, and vertically extending brace members between and secured to the diverging members.

JAMES MAcVEIGH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,098,949 Geissen Nov. 16, 1937 2,121,876 Lee June 28, 1938 

